“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has helped countless young people on their sometimes difficult path to adulthood.”HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

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Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion support the DofE programme because it has been instrumental in providing a rich learning experience for young people, that compliments, and in some instances extends, the knowledge, skills and attitudes they develop in a traditional learning environment.

It provides an exciting opportunity for personal development allowing learners to push their own boundaries whilst engaging in a team environment. Moving from the comfort zone to the challenge zone is a daunting prospect for some young people and the DofE programme allows personal growth and discipline to flourish.

Time management, determination and the drive to succeed are qualities that are required for any walk of life and are the fundamental reasons why this scheme is so successful and important for learners and our future work at College.

Doing my DofE is one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. It has helped me to overcome my fears and made me realise I can to do more things than I thought I could. The DofE is important because it allows people of all abilities to take part, develop skills and achieve. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

Toni Ann Wood, Bronze, Silver and Gold Award holder

Leaders today. Leaders tomorrow.

New research by the DofE shows that a new style of leadership – one that values inclusivity and empathy over authority and dominance, is growing among young people across the UK.

When asked which leaders they most admire, young people chose Barack Obama, Bill Gates and Gareth Southgate - all known for their modest, patient and empowering leadership styles.

In response to the findings, we’re calling for young people to recognise that skills gained through DofE, such as compassion, confidence and resilience are crucial to their future success.

Sarah Willingham, entrepreneur and ex-Dragon’s Den investor is pleased to see that this style of leadership is getting the recognition it deserves by today’s young people: “For too long, good leadership has been associated with dominance and authority so it’s brilliant to see attitudes among young people. Throughout my career, I’ve seen many examples of these traits only getting people so far, before they’re caught out, and ultimately, it’s empathy and resilience that tends to win.

“Programmes like the DofE, that build the right skills and challenge young people to explore their potential, are crucial to nurturing our next generation of great leaders.”